Verbena plant named ‘Lan Pursar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Verbena  plant named ‘Lan Pursar’, characterized by its compact, low, outwardly spreading and decumbent plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; large purple and white “star”-patterned flowers; and resistance to Powdery Mildew.

Botanical designation: Verbena hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Lan Pursar’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbenaplant, botanically known as Verbena hybrida, and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Lan Pursar’.

The new Verbena originated is a naturally-occurring branch mutation of aproprietary selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number1866-3, not patented. The new Verbena was discovered and selected by theInventor on a single flowering plant within a population of plants ofthe proprietary selection grown in a controlled greenhouse environmentin Gilroy, Calif. in February, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Gilroy, Calif. since February,2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Verbena are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Lan Pursar has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions, The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Lan Pursar’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Lan Pursar’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofVerbena:

-   -   1. Compact, low, outwardly spreading and decumbent plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large purple and white “star”-patterned flowers.    -   6. Resistant to Powdery Mildew.

Plants of the new Verbena differ from plants of the parent selection inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena are more trailing than plants of        the parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena have larger leaves than plants of        the parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena and the parent selection differ in        flower color pattern as plants of the parent selection have        purple “mosaic”-patterned flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena can be compared to plants of the Verbena ‘LanLav Star’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,590. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Gilroy, Calif., plants of the new Verbenadiffered from plants of ‘Lan Lav Star’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Verbena were more trailing than plants of        ‘Lan Lav Star’.    -   2. Plants of the new Verbena had longer internodes than plants        of ‘Lan Lav Star’.    -   3. Plants of the new Verbena had brighter purple-colored flowers        than plants of ‘Lan Lav Star’.    -   4. Plants of the new Verbena had longer peduncles and shorter        pedicels than plants of ‘Lan Lav Star’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Verbena. This photograph shows the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Verbena. The photograph comprises a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Lan Pursar’. Plants used in the photographwere grown in Gilroy, Calif. during the summer in an outdoor nursery andwere about six months old when the photograph was taken.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe plants grown in Gilroy, Calif.during the spring in a greenhouse in 10-cm containers and underconditions and practices which approximate those generally used incommercial Verbena production. During the production of the plants, daytemperatures ranged from 24° C. to 32° C. and night temperaturesaveraged 18° C. Measurements and numerical values represent averages fortypical flowering plants. Plants were three months old when thedescription was taken and were pinched one time.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrida ‘Lan Pursar’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of a proprietary    selection of Verbena hybrida identified as code number 1866-3, not    patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—About two weeks.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy; white in color.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant habit.—Compact, low, outwardly spreading and decumbent            plant habit. Freely branching habit with about four to eight            primary lateral branches per plant each with multiple            secondary branches; pinching enhances lateral branch            development; dense and bushy plant habit. Vigorous growth            habit.        -   Plant height.—About 10 cm to 13 cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 40 cm to 50 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 25 cm to 30 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2.5 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 4 cm to 6 cm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Heavily hirsute with glandular hairs.        -   Color.—Close to 144B with irregular blotches of 166A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 3.1 cm to 3.6 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.6 cm to 2.1 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse to acute.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Hirsute with glandular            hairs.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: Between 147A and            147B. Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 137C.            Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: Slightly darker than            147A; venation, close to 144B. Fully expanded foliage, lower            surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 144B.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm            to 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Heavily hirsute            with glandular hairs. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Salverform flowers arranged in            hemispherical terminal umbels; flowers face upward or            outward. Freely flowering habit with about 20 to 25 flowers            per inflorescence.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            the spring through the fall in California.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about five to seven days on            the plant. Flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4 cm to 5 cm.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 3.5 cm to 5 cm.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused,            five-parted. Diameter: About 1.8 cm to 2.2 cm. Tube length:            About 1.7 cm to 1.8 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 7 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Shape: Tubular. Color: Close to N82A.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five fused petals.            Petal lobe length: About 1 cm to 1.2 cm. Petal lobe width:            About 1 cm to 1.1 cm. Petal lobe shape: Roughly obcordate.            Petal lobe apex: Emarginate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal            texture, upper and lower surfaces: Papillose. Color: Petal            lobe, when opening, upper surface: Center, slightly darker            than N81A; towards the margins, “star” pattern, close to            155D with random irregular spots, close to N81A. Petal lobe,            when opening, lower surface: Center, close to N82C; towards            the margins, “star” pattern, close to 155D with random            irregular spots, close to N82A. Petal lobe, fully opened,            upper surface: Center, close to N82A; towards the margins,            “star” pattern, close to 155D with random irregular spots,            close to N82A. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface:            Center, close to N82C; towards the margins, “star” pattern,            close to 155D with random irregular spots, close to N82A.            Throat: Close to 155C. Tube: Close to 155C.        -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One single narrow calyx tube per flower            with five fused sepals. Sepal length: About 1.1 cm to            1.3 cm. Sepal width: About 1 mm to 1.5 mm. Sepal shape:            Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal base: Fused. Sepal            margin: Entire. Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Hirsute with glandular hairs. Sepal color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 138A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 cm to 6.5 cm. Diameter: About            1.5 cm to 2 mm. Strength: Strong. Texture: Hirsute with            glandular hairs. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Pedicels.—Flowers are sessile.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity/arrangement: Four per            flower, adnate to corolla tube. Filament color: Close to            N155C. Anther shape: Elliptic. Anther length: Less than            1 mm. Anther color: Close to 4C. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: Close to 4C. Pistils: Minute. Quantity: One            per flower. Pistil length: About 2 cm to 2.1 cm. Stigma            shape: Roughly lanceolate. Stigma color: Close to 144A.            Style color: Towards the apex, close to 145B; towards the            base, close to 155D.        -   Fruits/seed.—Fruit and seed development have not been            observed.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Verbena have been observed to    tolerate wind, rain and a wide range of temperatures.-   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have been    observed to be resistant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new    Verbena have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other    pathogens common to Verbenas.

1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘Lan Pursar’ as illustratedand described.